Gerbil
Photo credit: MDL.hu via Flickr Creative Commons
Natural history
The Mongolian gerbil or “jird” is a native of the Gobi desert, originating from Mongolia and Northern China.
Taxonomy
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Myomorpha
Family: Muridae-The largest and most diverse family of mammals including Old World rats and mice, and gerbils.
There are 14 genera of gerbils.
There are 87 known species of gerbil including the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).
Physical description
Including the tail, the Mongolian gerbil is 12-14 cm long. The head is broad and short, and the tail is covered in fur with a small tuft at the end.
Diet
Gerbils are omnivores. In the wild the diet consists of grasses and seeds with small amounts of insects. A captive diet consists of a high-quality pellet supplemented with small amounts of fruits and vegetables.
Husbandry
Gerbils are nocturnal, but some daytime activity normally occurs. Gerbils are sociable and generally do not fight when raised together.
Breeding pairs of gerbils are usually housed together for life.
Normal physiologic values
| Temperature | 99.3-100.8 F | 37.4-38.2 C | |
| Pulse | 260-600 | ||
| Respiration | 85-160 | ||
| Body weight | Adult male | 46-131 g | |
| Adult female | 50-55 g | ||
| Mean life span | 2-4y | ||
| Sexual maturity | 10 weeks | 9-18 wks (M) | 9-12 wks (F) |
| Gestation | 22-26 days | ||
| Litter size | 3 to 8 | ||
| Weaning age | 21-28 days | ||
| Target environmental temperature: | 50-68 F | 18-22 C | |
| Target environmental humidity: | 45-55% |
Anatomy / physiology
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Restraint
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Small amounts of blood may be collected from the lateral saphenous vein.
Important medical conditions
Ovarian cysts, tumors
Squamous cell carcinoma
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